Leuchars Mosquito
 

I am hoping that someone can help me to fill in the gaps in a story that I had been tempted to dismiss as garbled, but which now seems quite intriguing. The story came from a brief conversation with a man whose father had died in a Mosquito crash when he was flying from Leuchars during WWII. Apparently, he was an ex-RAF pilot and QFI who had left to fly with Imperial Airways. This would fit with his being one of the BOAC pilots flying the Leuchars-Stockholm courier runs in civil-registered Mosquitos, as mentioned previously in this forum. The name of the pilot was L A Wilkins.

I will try official sources for details, but if anyone can suggest a shortcut, it would be appreciated. :D

Story is absolutely true. Capt Wilkins was killed with Radio Officer Beaumont on 17/8/43. They had left Leuchars for Stockholm in G-AGGF and then radioed that they were returning. The weather was bad and no more was heard until a gamekeeper found the crash site on 8/9/43 on a mountain near Glen Esk. Wreckage exists there to this day.

AT,

An answer to my quest in 13 minutes! I am most impressed by the capabilities of this forum, and your knowledge in particular.

Thank you very much. :ok:

So am I! People have helped me similarly.

By the way, a gamekeeper told me a while back that the stream that runs down from the crash site is known locally as the Mosquito Burn. It may one day appear on the Ordnance Survey map!

According to this site:

Leaders Area - Dundee Open Award Unit

the crash location is at the upper end of Glen Esk on the slopes of Easter Balloch:

Streetmap.co.uk- search results for 335100,780600

Leuchars Mosquito
 

I was just doing a google search about my Uncles father and cam across this thread. My Uncle is Peter Wilkins and it was his father who was killed in the mosquito flyting from leuchars. I am not sure how much he knows about the crash details but I will pass this on anyway.

Mosquito Crash
 

I visited this crash site in my youth, obviously a while ago! However I am sure that I have pictures of the remains if anyone would like a copy. Just PM an e-mail address and I will scan them and send them on.

Cheers

Iain

THat would be great . i can send them to my Uncle Peter as I am fairly sure he has never been to where his father crashed. My email is [email protected]

Thanks very much

No problem. Working nights next couple of days, so might be late weekend or I dig them out. Be as quick as I can!

Cheers

Iain

Photos sent, hope they're ok!

Cheers

Iain

Leuchars Mosquito crash
 

Hi Iain

I'm Peter Wilkins and have just received your pictures from my nephew Philip. What an emotional moment for me as I was only eleven when the crash took place! My son in law Jack Butler a Thomas Cook B757 pilot is registered with PPrune and is typing my response to you.

I'm very grateful for the photos and information which I can add to all the stories and photos I have of his life. We've found another thread to add to the story which has some more photos of the crash site from last year! I'm taking the liberty of giving you my e Mail address [email protected] and if you have any more information I'd be most grateful to receive it.

Many thanks and Best Regards
Peter Wilkins

I seem to remember reading that Tony Agar picked up some bits and pieces from the Glen Esk Mossie to assist in the rebuild of HJ711 at Elvington many years ago.

There is also an archive photo held by SCRAN of G-AGGF in better days, although I think you have to subscribe if you want a full size copy.

SCRAN Archive

Air Crash Sites Scotland
 

There is a wonderful gentleman called Gordon Lyons who hosts an Air Crash Scotland site in his own time. I believe he would be very keen to include details of this crash site if someone would forward him the details. My father also piloted a Mosquito that crashed in Scotland in 1943. Fortunately (for me in particular) both he and his navigator parachuted out relatively safely. Details of that crash site are at DH Mosquito MM244

It also contains a photo of a 544 Squadron detachment at, yes Leuchars, in 1945.

Cheers

Grant Burfield
Brisbane
Australia